Truss



Oct. 16, 1923.

CH. SUMNER TRUSS Filed March 30 V1922 v vwefwoz @mmm umwelt Ef' Patented @et i6, 1923.

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Application filed March 30, 1922. Serial N'o. 548,089.

To all whom t may ooi/cern:

Be it known that l., CHARLES H. SUMNER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at` Terre Haute, in the county of Vigoand State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful improvements in a` Truss; and l do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to' l" winch it appertains to make and use the same,

rfhis invention relates broadly to an im` proved truss, but 1t has more particular reference to an improved plate for use in` con` f5 nection with such a device. j

The principal objectof the invention is to generally 'improve upon trusses' by provid. ing one of extreme simplicity and durability which is such in construction that it will insure comfort to the wearer and will continuously exert the desired pressure against the hernia at all time regardless of the position of the body, when the truss is in use.

the invention is toprovide a truss embodying a novel plate to which the pad is pivotally connected', this `plate having means for counecting the ends of the *body encircling :"0 straps to it and being provided at itsv upper end with means for bearing continually against the abdomen so that when the wearer stoops, coughs, or bends hisfbody in'any manner to protrude the abdomen, the plate will fulcrum on the straps and cause the pad to move inwardly and exert a greater pressure against the hernia..

A still further object of the invention is to provide a truss which `is such in construe tion as to eliminate slipping and creeping, one which relieves the patient of pain and torture and which does not Contact the body throughout its entire area, thus preventing chafing and providing space for air circulation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

n the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same: v

Figure l is an elevational view, looking at the inside of the truss, with portions of the straps being removed.

Anotherand a very importantr object of Figure 2 is a `central vertical sectional view. n

Figure Sis a detail perspective view of the improved plate.

In the drawings, the pad l, which may be kdesigned in any suitable way and con structed of any suitable material, is pivot-A ally connected with a metal plate 2 prefer-1 ably formed ofsome material which will not corrode from` perspiration when contacting with the body. To provide this connection, the pad is simply formed on its inner face with'spaced projections 3 against which a small plate 4l rests, this plate being bolted or otherwise connected with the projections and carrying a bolt 5 which extends through the opening 6 in the aforesaid plate 2. A nut 2'` is threaded on the outer end of the boltA 5 to holdr the 'plate 2 and pad connected together, but to permit free relative movement of these parts, y 0n its outer face at a point belowthe horizontal center, the plate is formed with spaced loops 8 to which the inner ends of straps 9 are connected.

The straps, as is obvious, are designed to surround the body above the hips and they are provided on their free ends with suit` able means for connecting these ends together to permit quick `detachment and adjustment. The straps `will of course, be composed of elastic material; It has been before intimated that the` novelty of the in` vention resides' in the employment of the specially designed plate and it consists more especially in the formation of means at the upper end of the `plate for spacing the same away from the body and for affording an inward pressure on the pad. Although this result could be accomplished otherwise by especially equipping the plate with suitable means, the plate is simply bent upon itself and has its end directed inwardly toward the body portion of the plate and terminating adjacent of same to form what may be conveniently termed a roll 10. This roll will vary in size according to the build of the person on whom the truss is to be placed.

In applying the truss, the straps are pressed around the body above the hips in the usual way and the buckle or fastening means on the ends is connected together to exert pressure against the pad l so as to hold it against the hernia. In practice, the shape of the pad, as before set forth, will vary to accommodate the different kinds of les ailments. It is obvious that when the body encircling member is drawn tight about the body,llltl ie rlolll() .of the aforesaid plate 2 will be brought into Contact with the abdomen and will be constantly bearing against the same. In the event that the wearer should cough or stoop, or otherwise move the body to protrude the abdomen, it is o-bvious that the pressure exerted against the roll 10 will tilt the lower edge of plate 9, inwardly andwill likewise move the pad in the same direction to cause it to exert a greater pressure against 4the hernia. vvHence, the pain and torture to which thepatient usually is ysubjected at this time will be eliminated to a certain extent.r

Experience has taught thata truss constructed in accordance with the invention,

when applied witha properly shaped pad,-

will. doubtless relievethe patientV o f much pain andtorture which` is experienced with the present types of patented and marketed trusses `:now used.` `The improif'ed truss is decidedly simple in construction, light jin Weight, easy to place in position,and involves anew principle, Vinthat it exertsthe desired additional pressure onA the hernia at the time wheny such pressure isrequired and needed. With the typeof plate employed, it becomes unnecessary toy provide means for escape of perspirationl to prevent chafing. This isztrue because a very little portion of the plate contacts the body: and the greater portion thereofis spaced from the same ,to permit free .air circulation.` It yis to be noted l the improved truss includes no springs-which are inconvenient, Astraps to pass -under the legsor other uncomfortable details. A truss vconstructed in accordance withlthe invention has been actually tested and has proven to give effective resultaba yond expectations. Free pivotal connection of the pad and plate is insured due` to the novel manner of connecting the straps with the plate. These and other advantages and features of the improved 'truss have been doubtless made apparent by the foregoingl description. It is alsothought that persons familiar with inventions of this class will doubtless be able to obtain a clear understanding of the foregoing description 'when considering its connection with the drawing. It therefore seems unnecessary to enter a more lengthy description.

Since probably the best results may be obtained with the construction and arrangement herein shown and described, this is taken as the preferred embodiment of the invention. However, I wish it to be understood that minor changes coming` within the scope of the invention as claimed may beresorted to if desired.

I claim:

l. A. truss including a flat rigidplatehaving its upper end bent upon itself and directed toward the wearers body with. the extremity terminating in close spaced relation to the body portion of the plate to provide a roll to bear lagainst the abdomen. said plate being designed. to be connected with the body encircling straps in, a manner to permit it to,v fulcrum thereon, and the pad being intended to -bepivotally conne/ted to 'the inner face of said plate to bear against the hernia. y 2. A truss comprising a pad intended to bear against the hernia, a plate pivotally connected adjacent its lower end to the intermediate portion of the pad, said plate ex; tendingabovesaid padand having itsup'per end vdirected first laterally. and then bent to form a rollV to; bear against. thev abdomen, loops secured to the outerface .of said plate, and body encircling straps,l connected at their inner ends' toy said loops, the opposite ends of the strapsibeing adapted for connection to one another. v s

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set rnyhand. ,mi CHARLES H. SUMNER. 

